WOMEN IN PRISON: IMPACTS OF NEGLECT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN CASES OF SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM

Abstract

The incarceration of women in Brazil highlights structural challenges related to living conditions and the guarantee of rights for women deprived of their liberty. Mental health emerges as a critical issue, marked by institutional neglect and insufficient specialized services. This study aims to analyze, through a literature review and document analysis, the impacts of neglect on mental health in the female prison system, with an emphasis on the occurrence of self-harming behaviors. Articles and scientific publications addressing topics such as mental health, suicide, and self-harm among incarcerated women were examined. The results indicate that factors such as overcrowding, structural deficiencies, lack of public policies, and limited access to psychological care contribute to the worsening of psychological suffering in the prison environment. Empirical evidence points to a prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors among female inmates. It is concluded that neglect in the female prison system constitutes a serious public health and human rights problem, reinforcing the need for institutional policies that guarantee psychosocial care and promote more dignified conditions of care and resocialization.